What do you want for Christmas?

This question was posed by a friend today on Face Book...as expected, there was a variety of answers.  My answer comes directly from life experience from this year for my family and me...here you go...try to stay with me, for if you have a weak stomach you might want to turn back! 

• I would like the elected officials in our Nation's capital to work together--truly putting their labels of 'democrat or republican or independent' aside, join forces and work (the inevitable fiscal cliff, health care, jobs/earnings, the economy, energy, farm bills, disaster relief and getting our troops back home, and other issues that I probably know nothing about but need to be dealt with--all the things that concern the people that they supposedly went in to office to serve) that's right:  Christmas is coming, but you signed up for this job, stay in Washington and actually WORK--that would make my season merry & bright, the our elected officials were taking their job seriously.

• I would like to see people to make a determined effort to value one another again as human beings.  Just be nice, because it is the right thing to do.  This time of year, especially, this time of year, people are 'out' --just be courteous, take your time--notice the person that needs a smile or a helping hand.  Whether you are in the stores, places to eat or entertainment venues--just be NICE-say please and thank you and excuse me, at the appropriate times.  (My family and I recently ate in a fairly nice place--'nice' became a relative term, as our meal was interrupted:  a guy across the room from us could not stop loudly ordering the waiters around OR the bodily noises...gross?  You bet.  Not once did he act like he was in public.  What happened to decorum?  What happened to embarrassment?) 

• I would like to have a Christmas season where every public 'women's' rest room I enter is immaculate and well stocked with toilet paper and seat protectors...not 'ikky'...and disgusting!  You know who you are girls:  clean up after yourself--your mom is not stopping by to clean up for you--and it makes the rest of us sick...clean it UP!

           So. Probably not the list that my friend was searching for--but there's more:  I want to be truly thankful...for everything.  That is going to take a lot of work.  But, I know who to thank, and I know how important that is! 

•  God has blessed our family with a good job for Randy, a new home, school for me and school for the twins and homework for me and the twins.  We have found a church to call home--truly a great place to worship and get involved.  God continues to give us friends, and lots of laughter...and time. 
• Time is precious.  I am able to skype with my mom throughout the week.  And, we are able to listen to and enjoy the laughter and little voices of our three grand babies!  We have already attended not just one, but two Christmas parades with them in tow this season!  Celebrating birthdays together this 'birthday season' (for that is what it is in this family, it runs from August 1 to January 20!) has been so much fun...only four more and then we have a break for a few months!  
• We are able to be together in the evenings, after we work out.  God is good--providing everything we need to have a meaningful and purposeful life.  
• By being thankful, that lends itself well to seeking to bring glory and honor to God for He is worthy of our praise...He knew exactly what we needed in our human condition--and He gave it to us--we needed a Savior--and He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, Our God and King!  Hallelujah and All Praise to Him--forever and ever! 

What's on YOUR Christmas list?